Spontaneous changes of players and obligations are one of the characteristics of Kooyong Classics in the run-up to the Australian Open. Most professionals like this.
Those who have bought a ticket to the Kooyong Classics can count on everything these days: for example, the comebacks of Rafael Nadal (carefully successful, despite the narrow defeat against Richard Gasquet) and Novak Djokovic (very successful, not only because of the never-tight victory against Dominic Thiem). Or the performance of a young lady who made history last year: Destanee Aiava, born in Melbourne, in this millennium. And the first player from this generation to participate in a Grand Slam tournament.
It can also happen, however, that the schedule doesn’t quite live up to what he had originally promised: If, for example, the second appearance of the Austrian number one was announced, this time against Lucas Pouille, then the information may well leak that Andrey Rublev is taking over from Thiems against the Frenchman. And this seepage has to happen fast, because Miss Aiava did not bring her gala form to the match against Eugenie Bouchard. 6:2,6:0, the second match of the third day did not lack a certain one-sidedness.
At the beginning of the week Bouchard, for whom it is not always possible to play again, had played in Hobart at the beginning of the week, but had failed there as the recipient of a wildcard to Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus. Bouchard had barely arrived in Melbourne and had already slipped onto the schedule of the Kooyong Classics, the name of the former semi-finalist of the Australian Open still attracts more spectators.
After her success against Aiava, Bouchard let all those present know what she thinks of the event in admirable openness:”It’s nice that she was invited. It’s even nicer that she was able to train in a real stadium and in front of fans. And, we can assume that there will be a small monetary incentive for all those involved. Even though the biggest challenge for Bouchard on Thursday was to protect himself against the Australian sun.
Who will win the preparation tournament, which was first held in 1988 after the Australian Open moved to Flinders Park? Richard Gasquet is the first candidate here. After all, the Frenchman is the only one to have won two games so far. This was also the case on Thursday against Matthew Ebden, who had defeated Marin Cilic before. Closure on Friday, surprises not excluded.